Rowdy Gaines

Summer Olympian | Swimming | Speaker

Swimming’s greatest ambassador and the voice of American swimming

Rowdy Gaines is a legendary American swimmer and one of the sport’s most enduring figures. A three-time Olympic gold medalist, Rowdy has been inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame.

ABOUT Rowdy

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Known for his powerful freestyle sprinting, Gaines rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, earning five NCAA titles while swimming for Auburn University. His Olympic dreams were initially dashed by the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games, but he rebounded spectacularly at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he won three gold medals.

After his retirement, Rowdy continued his commitment to swimming as an on-air announcer for CBS, TNT and ESPN. He works with many charitable organizations, including the USA Swimming Foundation, Swim Across America benefitting research for cancer and the Special Olympics.

ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 3x Olympic Gold Medalist
• 1x Olympian – Los Angeles 1984
• The voice of swimming for NBC
• Often referred to as “Swimming’s Greatest Ambassador”
• USOC and International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee

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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

After retiring from competition, Rowdy became a celebrated sports commentator, lending his insightful analysis and passion for swimming to countless broadcasts. He is also an advocate for swimming safety, a motivational speaker and a mentor to aspiring athletes, embodying a lifelong dedication to the sport that he helped popularize.

SPEAKER THEMES

• Goal-setting and the champion mindset
• Teamwork in an individual sport/world
• Resiliency and the pursuit of excellence: provides behind-the-scenes insights

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TESTIMONIALS

“We have received nothing but glowing reviews from the event, and the audience was elated to hear Rowdy's speech. He was so personable and inspiring that she made a lifelong memory for everyone in attendance."